Download "Freedom"
Album Lemonade
- #1
Pray You Catch MeBeyoncé
- #2
Hold UpBeyoncé
- #3
Don’t Hurt YourselfBeyoncé & Jack White
- #4
SorryBeyoncé
- #5
6 InchBeyoncé & The Weeknd
- #6
Daddy LessonsBeyoncé
- #7
Love DroughtBeyoncé
- #8
SandcastlesBeyoncé
- #9
ForwardBeyoncé & James Blake
- #10
FreedomBeyoncé & Kendrick Lamar
- #11
All NightBeyoncé
- #12
FormationBeyoncé
- #13
Lemonade Film (Script)Beyoncé
Freedom by Beyoncé (Ft. Kendrick Lamar)
Release Date
Performed by
BeyoncéKendrick LamarWrited by
Jonny Coffer & John A. Lomax & Alan Lomax & Frank Tirado & Kendrick Lamar & Arrow Benjamin & Carla Marie & BeyoncéAbout
“Freedom” is an anthem dedicated to black women. The song brings Beyoncé’s visual album to an apex with the scene ‘hope’ and features the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner pictured with photos of their deceased sons.
Throughout the song, Beyoncé alludes to herself as a force...
Freedom Lyrics
[Verse 1: Beyoncé]
Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder
Tell the storm I'm new
I'ma walk, I'ma march on the regular
Painting white flags blue
Lord, forgive me, I've been running
Running blind in truth
I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love
Tell the sweet I'm new
[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]
I'm telling these tears, "Go and fall away, fall away," oh
May the last one burn into flames
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
Freedom! Freedom! I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose! Yeah
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom, too!
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves
[Verse 2: Beyoncé]
I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters
Tell the tide, "Don't move"
I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders
Call me bulletproof
Lord, forgive me, I've been runnin'
Runnin' blind in truth
I'ma wade, I'ma wave through your shallow love
Tell the deep I'm new
[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]
I'm telling these tears, "Go and fall away, fall away," oh
May the last one burn into flames
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
Freedom! Freedom! I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose!
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom, too!
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves
[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]
Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice
Channel 9 news tell me I'm movin' backwards
Eight blocks left, death is around the corner
Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona
Six headlights wavin' in my direction (Come on)
Five-O askin' me what's in my possession
Yeah, I keep runnin', jump in the aqueducts
Fire hydrants and hazardous
Smoke alarms on the back of us
But mama, don't cry for me, ride for me
Try for me, live for me
Breathe for me, sing for me
Honestly guidin' me
I could be more than I gotta be
Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy
Code on me, drive on me
Wicked, my spirit inspired me, like yeah
Open correctional gates in higher desert (Yeah)
Open our mind as we cast away oppression (Yeah)
Open the streets and watch our beliefs
And when they carve my name inside the concrete
I pray it forever reads
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
Freedom! Freedom! I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose!
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom, too!
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves
[Outro: Kendrick Lamar]
What you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? Oh, father, can you hear me?
What you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? Oh, father, can you hear me?
Hear me out
[Spoken: Hattie White]
I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade.
Freedom Q&A
Who wrote Freedom's ?
Freedom was written by Jonny Coffer & John A. Lomax & Alan Lomax & Frank Tirado & Kendrick Lamar & Arrow Benjamin & Carla Marie & Beyoncé.
Who produced Freedom's ?
Freedom was produced by Just Blaze & Beyoncé & Jonny Coffer.
What's the story behind the sample?
Shout out to the homie Egon from Stones Throw, he’s kind of the one that brought that sample to life. I forget the original writer’s name, but there’s only 300 copies of that record in existence. It was recorded in Mexico back in I think the late 60s. Egon had re-issued it a couple of years ago, so...
Who came up with the idea to use this specific sample?
Producer Just Blaze told the Rap Radar podcast that he’d heard the sample used by others before, but it was Beyonce who brought it to him on this occasion:
So when she brought me the idea, I thought ‘Oh, here goes this record again.’ I always say to people… I have certain samples and certain record...
What was Just Blaze's process when making this track?
Basically, did the idea at the house. Got it to where I felt it was right. One of her things was, she said ‘This sounds like you, this feels like you.’.. Sent it back to her. And I was a little nervous cause I didn’t hear anything right away… But I mean it’s Beyonce we’re talking about, she’s doing...
When and where was this song written?
Within 24 hours of hearing the song, Beyoncé recorded what we had so far, just to test herself out on it. Then she got to work on how she wanted to say the words properly. She’s a visionary herself, so she started helping us find the direction of the song. She wanted it to be a female anthem, and we...
What certifications have this track received?
On August 8, 2022, “Freedom” was certified gold by the RIAA.